Shock absorber



Nov. 24, 1931. Q; KRENKE 1,833,490

SHOCK ABSORBER Filed May 28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 O. A. KRENKE New. 24, 1931.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 28, 1930 INVENTOR OLa/Zi X06706? Fil Patented Nov. 24, 1931.

PATENT OFFICE o'r'ro-A. xnmvxn, or roar 'mcroame oommmr, or naxo'ra Application filed Kay 28,

jThis invention relates to shock absorbers,

, and more particularly to the type of shock absorbers utilized to control or modify the action of the supporting springs of automobiles and other vehicles.

One ofthe objects of the present invention is the provision of a two-way shock absorber that will limit the movement of a vehicle supportingspring in either direction,

and wherein a greater retardation is supplied to limit movement in one direction than in the other;

Another object of this invention is the arrangement of a hydraulic shock absorber so that it will exert a retarding effect upon very slight movements of the supporting springs in either direction. '7

c A further object of this invention is the provision of a shock absorber that is simple v and compact, having few and comparatively easily manufactured parts that may be readily assembled by unskilled labor.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description,

wherein reference is made to the accompanying. drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shock absorber constructed in accordance with my invention, and -shown in position upon a vehicle, I a

Figure 2' is an enlarged plan view of the body portion of the shock absorber.

Figure 3 is a central vertical section therethrough. g

0 Figures 4 and 5 are cross-sections taken substantially on the lines 4 4 and 55 of a Figure 3. I

Figure 6 is a detail side elevation of the valve utilized in one of theliquid transfer tubes, and

HURON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR '10 ANKEB-KOLTH MANU- IPOR-T HURON, MICHIGAN,

A coarom'r'rou or sou'rn snoox ABsomma- 1930. Serial No. 456,746.

tubes.

Referring now to the drawings, the nu- ,meral 5 designates the frame, or other desired portion, of a vehicle'body, and 6 one of the supporting springs for such body. Obviously, any type of vehicle supporting spring and various types of vehicle bodies may be utilized in connection with the shock absorber forming the claimed subject matter herein, and accordingly no attempt has been made to illustrate or describe a completely operative vehicle assembly. Instead, only so much of a vehicle body and its supporting springs are shown herein as is believed to be'necessary to depict the assembly of a preferred mounting for my improved shock absorber. The shock absorber body portion is preferably secured to the frame 5 by bolts 7 or other suitable securing elements passing through apertured bosses 8 circumferentially spaced around the body portion. Within the body portion is provided a movable member, the extent of movement of which is controlled by an operating arm 9 suitably connected with a supplemental arm 10 connected adjacent its lower extremity with the spring 6. As best illustrated in Figure 1, the arms 9 and 10 are connected to each other by means of a ball and socket joint, and the lower extremity of the arm 10 is formed with a ball fitting into a socket carried by abracket 11 suitably secured upon the spring 6. Such an arrangement will permit the requisite movements of the arms 9' and 10, but it is to be understood that other forms of connections may be substituted therefor.

The body of the shock absorber preferably comprises a cylindrical housing 12 having an open side and a cover plate 13 adapted to close the open side of the housing, and through instrument-alities, such as the gasket 14 and screws 15, seal the housing against loss of liquid contained therein. The side Figure 7 is a side elevation of one of such of the housing Opposite the cover plate 13 is ly of the housing the Portion ar eeew r iv l :Wi -lQxSQF W with the shaft 16 by bored to provide a bearing forthe screw shaft 16, and the outeredge of the aperture may be closed by suitable means to prevent the leakage of liquid around the shaft, such as the stufling box 17. The outer extremity V of the shaft 16 is formed with a polygonal portion 16 upon which the operating arm 9 is suitably clamped, as by means. of the clamping bolt 18.; ,(Note Figures 1 and 3.) Thefopposite end .0 the shaft 16 is j ourna'led in a" recess inthe cover plate 13; and interiorshaft is provided withnt rme hins W th' imi a T threads formed in nut, The ends of the received in suitable reand adj acenttheir ends thetubes mit passage of liquid into and out of the provided with an elongated'aperj ture' 20 r'for the introduction of liquid-into the -tube 20' and; with an el-ongat'ed aperture 20 ;:;;30-

for egress of liquid from the t'ube,-the out flow of the liquid from the tube 20 being-cont-trolled by y P ss a. spring-pressed valve 20 'normalagainst a' seat within the tubeby qthe coil spring20 theapertures 20 and 20 of the tubes'being on opposite sides of-thei traveler: nut 19'.

Similarly, the tube 21 is Informed withan elongated aperture 21 for the introduction o with anelongatedon: opposite sides xthe aperture 21" pressed valve21 2'; A5"

outflow ofrthe. liquid from the tube through normallypressed against a,

seat within'the tube by the coil springer. It is-lto benoted that the intake apertures 20 and 21 of the respectivetubes are on opposite sides of the traveler nut 19', and that Ethee ressapertures2'0 and 21 of there- .s'pectiv'e tubes {are on opposite sidesofthe traVeler; nut'19, whereby movement: of the traveler nut one direction will serve 'Yto force liquid-intof ,Cneiof the tubes, I as 20, but q} not into the other, I

"51:55 traveler nut IQ- in'the opposite direot-in will ":force; the liquid into the other tube, as-21,

while movement of the 'j. andnoti-ntoithe'firstementionedtube. y The interior of the housing12 is intended to befilled with a 60 peir'atures in which the vehicle is being used, the oil,being introduced through an intake aperture in the upper portion of the housing, may then be closed Y by, a' as t v u'itab l ,,s ls s an oilm'ixture that will notcongeal at the temwhich aperture suitable plug-22 The traveler'nut 19 isnoreaiaa the-portions-:23 arid-124i a central aperture of a" traveler nut 19, which is kept from rqtati ngs a plurality of apertured sleeves, as and 21,.passingl through o'pen-,. ings in the traveler tubes 20' and21-are cesses in the housing 12 and cover plate 13' 1 respectively,- V are formed 1 tube tube-20is withelongated apertures to p'er-- l s, as hereinafterdescribed. Thus the at liquid into'the tube and aperture 21 for the egress *ofzliqfuidifrom thevt'ube; these'apertures being of the travelernut. '19. The I "is" controlled by the springoperati arm 9 s t t the is moved toward the end eral wall of' .thefhousing","as 2el; [is' ojf suflicient "diameter to 'provicle"'for' comparatively easy passage of liquid between the 1 the-Y- travelernut and thewalh and interperiphery of .U Han a tapered portion 25, substantially -as;sho wn in Figure 3. By virtue of this arrangement of the peripheral wall of the housing 12, movement ofthetraveler nut 19 toward the cover plate 13 will be comparatively easy the liquid between the traveler' nut and the cover plate 13 being permitted to-flow around the travel'er nut as'we'll as through the tube 21; but moveme'nt o'f the traveler nut in the opposite direction, i. e. towardtheaperturedside wall of: the housing, will be comparatively greatly retarded,the-liquid between the traveler nut 19 and the side wall-of the housing being permitted to: escape around therperiphery of the traveler nut onlyii intil the-.1nearestedgeof the traveler nut enters .:.the lesser 3 diameter portion 23 of the peripheral wallv of .=tl1e hou sing, whereupon substantially all fliquid passing from one side of the traveler nut to" the otherimust pass through the tube 1 and during t 1e movement toward the lesser diameter portion 23 of the housing, the volume of liquidescap'e around the periphery of the traveler nut will be gradually diminished because of the tapered'por'tion 25' of the'peripheral wall of the housing-. v Accordingly, the flexibility of the eh-i'cle supporting spring 6 may be utilized in one direction of move ment without serious retardation by the shock absorberywhilethe reboundot: the spring will be retarded,iat Ffirst gently and then with increasing opposition until- -the movement permittedwby the shock: absorber is only. that allowed: bythe passage: of liquid: from one side of the traveler nut to the othe thrugfig: fthetube 20.---

I V r The operation of my'improved abs Zber is believed to be apparent; With'the parts normally arranged, substantially as shown,in Eigure l, with the traveler nut 19" substantially centrally of the housingal2, movement oftheframe 5 and spriiigab toward each other will serve to operatethe rav leiin 1 o movement of the traveler'nut force'siliquid from between the traveler nut andthe; end plate 13 "t'o' the other side'lofthelnut, the liquid traveling both' aroundthe 2 plate ,Sucli" p phery Q it e nut and through the tube 21, thepressure oii" from its seat to permit egress of liquid from I the tube through the apertureQl (note lire-3). Rebound andso move the the liquid serving to force the valve 21 away Figmovements, i-e. movements wherein the tremor-1.5 and spring 6 tend to move away from each other, serve to swing the operating arm 9 in the reverse direction,

integralside wall of the housing. Such movement of the traveler nut forces liquid from between the nut and the integral end wall of thehousing to the opposite side ithe liquid passing around the periphery of the nutas long as permitted and of the nut,

then being forced to travel almost exclusively through i the tube 20. lhis result is secured by the different diamecer portions of the housing 12,

- the liquid at first escaping freely around the v periphery of the nut, and then to FY lesser ere tent as the achacentedge of the traveler nut fpasses through the tapered wall portion of the housing, and finally when the traveler .nut enters the smaller diameter portion 23 of the housing, escape of theliquid around.

on tneliquid between the traveler the nut being practically nil. The pressure nut and the integral. end. wall of the housing is communicate'd to the. valve 20 and moves'said valve away from its seat to uncover more and more of the egress aperture 20" of the tube :20. Asthe movements imparted to the ope ating arm 9-become less, the traveler nut is returned to its normal position substantially centrally of the housing 12, and the coil 'sp'ringsreseat their respective valves.

While it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiments of my invention herein rt disclosed are well calculated to adequately tionis susceptible to variation, and change within the spirit and scope of fulfill the objects and advantages primarily statechit is to be understood that the invenmodification,

the subioined claims. r

Having described my invention, what I claim is: r I

device of the character described, 7 the combination with two 1. In a members of a veh1- cle adapted to move toward and from each other, of a shock absorber mounted upon one of the members, and comprising a cylindrical foil containing housing, the inner peripheral Lwalliof which isformed with end portions of 1 different diameters, a screw shaft journaled mUt-hehousmg, atraveler nut mesh ng with the screw shaft and normally arranged within the larger substantially equal to the diameter of the said" members and arranged to oscillate the screw shaft upon relative movements of the members.

2. In a device of the character described,

traveler nut 19 toward theournaled one direction will move a other, of a shock oil containing housing,

diameter portion of the'hous-- ing, the diameter of the traveler nut being of the members, and comprising a cylindrical oil containing housing, the inner peripheral wall of which is formed with end portions of different diameters connected by an intermediate tapered wall portion, a screw shaft in the housing, a traveler nut meshing with the screw shaft and normally arranged within the larger diameter portion of the housing, the diameter of the traveler nut being substantially equal to the diameter of the smaller peripheral portion of the housing, meansvfor preventing rotation of the traveler nut, and means connected to the other of said members and arranged to oscillate the screw shaft upon relative movements of the members, whereby oscillation of the shaft in the traveler nut from the larger diameter portion of the housing toward the-smaller diameter portion thereof through the intermediate tapered portion.

3. In a {le -rice of the character described, the combination with two members of a vehicle adapted to move toward and from each absorber mounted upon one of the members, and comprising a cylindrical the inner peripheral wall of which is formed with end portions of different diameters, a screw shaft journaled in the housing, a traveler nut meshing with the screw shaft and normally arranged within the larger diameterportion of the housing, the diameter of the traveler nut being substantially equal to the diameter of the smaller peripheral portion of the housing,

he traveler nut being also formed with apertures substantially parallel to the screw shaft, spaced hollow tubes passing through the apertures in the traveler nut and each having inlet andoutletaperturesonopposite sides of the traveler nut, spring pressed valves arranged within said tubes to normally close the outlet apertures, and means connected with the other of said members for oscillating the screwshaft upon relative movements of the members.

l. In a device of the haracter described, comb nation with two members of a vehicie'adapted to move toward and from each other, of a shock ab orber mounted upon one of the members, and comprising a cylindrical oil containing housing, the inner peripheral wall of which is formed with end portions of different diameters, a screw shaft iournaled in the housing, a traveler nut meshinn with the screw shaft and normally ar ranged within the larger diameter portion of the housing, the diameter of the traveler nut being substantially equal to the diameter of the smaller peripheral portion of the housing, the traveler nut being also formed with a pair of apertures substantially parallel to the screw shaft, a pair of spaced hollow tubes passing through the. apertures in the traveler' nut and each having inlet and outlet aper- A jacent opposlte tures on opposite sides of the traveler nut, spring tubes to normally close the outlet apertures,

pressed valves arranged within said the outlet apertures of the tubes being adends of the housing, and

means connected with the other of said members for oscillating the screw shaft upon relative movements of the members.

- 5."In a device of the character described,

- the combination cle adapted to with two members of a vehimove toward and from each other of a shock absorber mounted upon one i oil containing housing,

of the members, and comprising acylindrical having an open end and havingits-opposite end wall centrally apertured toform a journal bearing, the inlarger diameter shaft, a

nerperipheral wall being formed withend portion ofdifierent diameters, a screw shaft yjournaled in the'apertured end wall of the housing, housing a cover plate for the open end of the provided with a central recess formbearing for the adjacent end of the traveler nut meshing with the screw shaft and normally arranged within the portion of the housing, the traveler nut being substaning a diameter of the tially equal to the diameter of the smaller peripheral portion of the housing, means for preventing rotation of the traveler nut, and

means connected to the other of said members and arranged to oscillate the screw shaft upon relative movements of the members.

' 6. Ina device of the character described,

a the combination with two members of a ve- Qhicle adapted to move toward and from each other, of a shock absorber mounted upon one of the members,;and comprisinga cylindriend and having. its opposite end wall cencal oil containing housing, having an open trally apertured to form a' ournal bearing,

-' the inner peripheral wall being formed with end portions of different diameters connecting with. the screw shaft ed by an intermediate tapered portion, a

screw shaft journaled in the apertured. end wall of the housing, a cover plate-for the open end of the housing provided with a 1 central recess forming a bearing for the ad j a'cent end of the shaft, a traveler nut meshand normallyarranged within the larger diameter portion of the housing, the diameter of the traveler nut "being substantially equal to the diameter of direction will move 3 the smaller peripheral means for-preventing portion of the housing rotation of the traveler nut, andmeans connected to the other of said members and arranged to oscillate the screw l shaft upon relative movements of the members, whereby oscillation of the shaft in one the traveler nut from the -larger diameter portion of the housing toward the smaller diameter portion thereof through the intermediate tapered portion.

7. In a device of the character described,

ner peripheral wall being posite ends of the ripheral portion ofthe housing,

the traveler nut and the combination with two membersof a vehicle adapted to move toward and from each other, of a shock absorber mounted upon one of the members, and. comprising a cylindricaloil containing housing, having an open end and having its opposite end wall centrally apertured to from a journal bearing, the informed with end portions of different diameters, a screw shaft j-ournaled in the apertured end wall of'the housing, a coverplate for the open end of the housing provided with a central recess forming a bearing for the adjacent end of the shaft, av traveler nut meshing with the screwshaftandnormally arranged'within the larger diameter portion of the housing, the diameter of the traveler nut being substantially equal to the diameter of the smaller peripheral portion of the housing, the traveler nut having a pair of apertures therethrough spaced from the shaft, a pair of spaced hollow tubes passing through the apertures in the traveler nut and having their ends in contact with the cover plate and apertured end wall of the housing, each tube having inlet and outet apertures arranged respectivey on opposite sides of the traveler nut, spring pressed valves arranged within said tubes to normally close the'outlet apertures, the outlet apertures of the tubes being adjacent op housing, and means connected with the other of said members for 0scillatingthe screw shaft upon relative move ments of the members.

8. In a device of the character described," the combination with'two members of a vehicle adapted to move toward and from each other, of a's'hock absorber mounted upon one of the members, and comprising a cylindrical oil containing housing,shaving an open'end and having its opposite end wall centrally apertured to form a journal bearing, the inner peripheral wall being formed withend portions of different diameters connected by an intermediate tapered portion, a screw shaft journaled in the apertured end wall of the housing, a cover plate for the open end of the housing provided with a central recess forming a bearing for the adjacent end of the shaft, atraveler nut meshing with the screw shaft and normally arranged within the larger diameter portion of the housing,"the diameter of the traveler nutbeingsubstantially equal to the diameter of the smaller pcthe traveler pair of apertures therethrough the shaft, a pair offspaced holow tubes passing through the apertures in having their ends in con-' tact with the cover plate and apertured end wall of the housing,'each tube having, inlet and outlet apertures arranged respectively on opposite sides of the traveler nut, spring pressed valves arranged within said tubes to normally close the outlet apertures, the outlet nut having a spaced from apertures of the tubes being arranged adjacent opposite ends of the housing, and means connected to the other of said members and arrangedto oscillate the screw shaft upon relative movement of the members, whereby oscillation of the shaft in one direction will move the traveler nut from the larger diameter portion of the housing toward the smaller diameter portion thereof through the in-' termediate tapered portion.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification.

OTTO A. KRENKE. 

